Saskatchewan Roughriders midfielder AJ Allen doesn't feel right. 3DownNation's 2025 CFL Stars Pick.
When the list came out on Halloween, the 27-year-old shared our publication's article about his X feed three crying laughing emoticons. During Gray Cup week in Winnipeg 3DownNation asked him what was wrong with the choice. After pausing and laughing loudly, Allen responded.
“I told someone I would do this if I was ever asked this question, so I'm going to do this: 'The game recognizes the game, grandpa,'” he said, followed by another laugh. – If you know what it is from.
This line comes from Outbacksatirical animated show, designed for four seasons and 55 episodes. Allen's line from the show implies that he knows who the best players are in the CFL and doesn't agree with our choices.
“I don't like this list, I feel like your standards aren't perfect and I'm just being honest with you, that's how I feel. I feel like there are a lot of people that should have been on the list or deserve to be on the list and I feel like my name is one of them,” Allen said.
In 18 regular-season games for the Riders in 2025, the University of Guelph graduate totaled 87 tackles — fifth-most in the league with three downs — four special teams tackles, four sacks, three interceptions and three forced fumbles.
“You sit there and think, 'What else should one person do?' My answer for me is this is reality. At the end of the day, I’m going to sit here and win the Gray Cup, that’s my goal,” Allen said.
3DownNation selected Tony Jones and Tyrese Beverett as the star midfielders for the first team, while Jameer Thurman and Wynton McManis were on the second team. After Allen shared his dislike of the casting, he was asked the tough question: “Who would he cast?”
“Yeah, I don’t do that,” he said. “I know the answer, but I won’t tell you because it’s not in my interests.”
The Roughriders (13-6) and Montreal Alouettes (12-8) will meet in the 112th Gray Cup at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg on Sunday, November 16, with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 pm ET.
The Als defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East final, 19-16, and the Riders came back to defeat the BC Lions in the West final, 24-21. The teams split two regular-season meetings, but Montreal defenseman Davis Alexander missed both games due to left hamstring injury.
The weather forecast for Winnipeg calls for a high of two degrees, sun and clouds. The game will be broadcast on TSN, CTV and RDS in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the US and CFL+ worldwide.
This is the fifth time the Gray Cup will be held in Winnipeg and the second time it will be held at Princess Auto Stadium. The stadium's first Gray Cup was held in 2015, when Edmonton defeated the Ottawa Redblacks 26–20 and Michael Reilly was named MVP.
